Time to start tasting the 2nd wines of the big boys and here's a good'un. 2nd label of Leoville Las Cases. Deep purple with ruby edge. Nose has lots of similarities to its' big bro. Black fruits with some red berries, spices, tobacco leaf, with a tinge of flowers. All come over on the taste along with sweetish cocoa. Big entry, heavy center, and a solid 4+ lapper finish. Still has some solid layers of tannions that need another 4-6 to resolve. Super juice. 91/90. Bought on the 2nd tranch at 45. 13% alc. WW

Opened another for lunch. Has come along swimmingly since the last bottle. Still deep ruby with large perfumed nose of black and red fruits laced with cassis and spices that all hit the palate running. The depth is amazing and the finish hits a solid 4&1/2 lapper. Still needs anopther 2-4 but is definately showing breeding at this point. No change in scoring yet but close. WW

Third time around for this killer 2nd. Nose has become more perfumed, with the floral aspect coming on, and the finish hitting on all cylinders. The mouthfeel has intensified and tempts me to kick this up a point but will leave at 91 until it has more maturity. Solid bottle. WW

Had lunch with a new biz associate who is a wino-in-the-making. He said somehting about wanting to try Bordeaux more seriously than B&G so took this and the 2000 La Lagune to lunch yesterday. It was almost like watching an ephinany. He smelled, he swirled, he sipped, he smiled then said HOLY $%^()*. I'm sure he liked the juice. Then after a tad of conversation about biz I poured the La Lagune, telling him in advance that it was more refined than the baby LLC. Surprisingly his reaction was derned near identical but without the exclamation mark! The Clos is still 3-5 from its' peak and the La is about the same but both are very enjoyable now with decanting for 1-1&1/2 hours. both definately outstanding bottles. WW

Had another for lunch yesterday. Nose has really exanded and seems this sucker done finally hit the long stride. Superb mouthfeel, balance, and a finish that Rolls would be proud of. Should hold for another 15-20 withoput breaking a sweat. WW

Another bit the dust yesserday. Still has plenty of supple tannins to let it develop for another 4-6. Not much new from the Jan bottle as the memory is the 2nd thing to go. Can become a monumental bottle of juice. If you have this wine don't be in a hurry to pop the cork. WW

Opened another for lunch yesterday. Know with all the responses that the interest is BERRY,BERRY high on this bottle. Is coming along swimmingly so I'll keep opening and drinking the suckers and posting. WW